How can I make-up for all the wrong I’ve done?
Maybe, if I start today, and never make those same, stupid mistakes again…
Maybe if I apologize, but will they believe me? Just saying “I’m sorry,” is not enough!
Maybe if I cry, they’ll believe I’m sorry.
Two weeks later, I messed-up again.
Atoning for past sins is really quite impossible. I can never do the right thing consistently. Part of me wants to give up. The other part wants to just hide. Then, there’s the seriously guilty part of me, that may as well die!
Guilt is a killer!
How can I ever atone? It’s a hard thing to live with: a hard pill to swallow!
Let’s be truthful.
I can’t. I can’t be right, or good, or perfect. There’s no way. Every time I try to do good, evil is always there, staring at me! Every time I try to say the right thing, it comes out wrong.
All I can say…. is…
…thank God for this One Truth:
A man on the street-corner told me a story about the torture of an innocent Man, thousands of years ago, Who prayed for His torturers, while they were torturing Him, Whose death actually paid for my wrongs!
“How is that possible”, I asked, “when I had not been born yet?”
The stranger explained that This Man’s death atoned for, not only my wrongs, but for the sins of everyone born before …And after His death!
Miracle of miracles, and an amazing gift of Grace!
The mystery of the Love of Jesus, makes it possible to release me from the penalties that I deserve for all the mistakes and wrongs I have ever done!
“Whaaat??!” I exclaimed.
Truth is: If I had not stopped to talk to this stranger on the street-corner, I might have gone on through life, condemning myself forever…miserable, angry, blaming others … or circumstances, for my misery.
So glad I stopped and listened.
Now, I have come to know…
When I mess up, all I have to do, is repent: acknowledge my sin, tell Jesus and anyone else that I’ve offended, that I am sincerely sorry, make an attempt to change the error of my ways…and immediately….
The bright light of Jesus’ love covers me, hides my sin and my shame, washes it away, and suddenly, I’m on the path to newness…a fresh start!
… And, trust me, I’ve started over many, many, many times!
But Jesus doesn’t condemn me…Instead… He keeps forgiving me, giving me another chance. Nobody loves me like that!
Hope for Living Well 